United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

METHAMPHETAMINE RING LEADER SENTENCED
TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT PAROLE

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Dallas resident, Roy Mata, was sentenced today by the Honorable Sam R. Cummings, United States District Judge, to life imprisonment. In November, a federal jury in Lubbock, Texas, convicted Mata on all three counts of an indictment charging him with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Roy Mata was arrested in Dallas on July 18, 2005, and several other defendants were arrested in Fort Worth, Brownwood, Blanket, and Coleman County, Texas, that same week on drug and firearms charges outlined in federal indictments returned in Lubbock, Texas.

Testimony at trial from Mata’s accomplices showed that Mata distributed, through a co-conspirator, approximately 25 to 30 pounds of methamphetamine (ice) to the Brownwood, Texas area.

“As a result of his drug trafficking activities, Mata will remain in prison until he dies.” Roper said. “This significant sentence should send chills through drug dealers in West Texas. Federal and local law enforcement will not rest until people like Mata are behind bars.”

U.S. Attorney Roper thanked and praised the excellent cooperative investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Brownwood Police Department, West Central Texas Interlocal Crime Task Force, Brown County District Attorney’s Office, Brown County Attorney’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Rio Concho Multi-Agency Drug Task Force.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey R. Haag and Tanya Pierce of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Lubbock office.

# # #